BREASTFEEDING MANIFESTO LEARNING CONTENT How to Latch Challenges Feeding Positions Understanding Milk Stages The Right Way Benefits HOW TO BREASTFEED: LATCHING ON Babies will show feeding cues such as, opening their mouths, sucking their fists and licking their lips. Hold your baby close and line their nose up with your nipple. Allow your baby’s head to tip back so their top lip is in line with your nipple. Your baby can make a wide, open mouth. With an open mouth, your baby’s chin should touch your breast and their tongue should reach your breast. As your baby’s lips attach to your breast, you should see much more of the dark nipple skin above your baby’s lips than below. Your baby’s cheeks will look full as they feed. HOW TO BREASTFEED: POSITIONS There are a number of different breastfeeding positions you can try, until you find the position most comfortable for you and your baby. These include: Cradle hold Side lying Laid back Football hold UNDERSTANDING MILK STAGES Breast milk can vary in color, texture, and nutrient composition depending on the stage of lactation and maternal health. Common variations include: Yellowish milk (early colostrum stage) Creamy white transitional milk Slightly bluish or watery milk depending on hydration These variations are natural and usually reflect normal changes in milk composition. More insights are explained in The Go-To Breastfeeding Manifesto for New Moms by The Mom Store BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING Benefits for your baby Benefits for you Breast milk is made specifically for your baby’s needs. It contains vitamins and minerals, offers some protection from infections, can help them digest solid food better when they start to wean and is readily available. Breastfeeding can make you feel close to your baby and develop your joint bond, by releasing a hormone called oxytocin. Breastfeeding has been shown to increase the rate in which your uterus returns to its normal size after birth. Breastfeeding also reduces your risk of certain cancers. CHALLENGES OF BREASTFEEDING Sore nipples Milk supply Mastitis Tongue-tie Sore nipples are very common in the early days of breastfeeding and usually occur when your baby is getting used to latching properly. The more your baby feeds, the more milk you will produce, but it’s natural to worry about how much your baby is taking in. Mastitis is a condition which inflames your breast tissue and can cause some breast pain. Symptoms can be flu-like and you may notice a lump in your breast. A tongue-tie is when the frenulum (a strip of tissue attaching the tongue to the mouth) is shorter than normal. It can make latching harder. THERE IS NO “ONE RIGHT WAY” One of the most reassuring truths for new mothers is that there isn’t a single correct way to breastfeed. Different feeding approaches may work for different families: Direct nursing Pumping breast milk Combination feeding Each option supports a baby’s nutritional needs while allowing mothers to adapt to their lifestyle and comfort level. Every Breastfeeding Journey Is Unique BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN BREASTFEEDING Helpful habits include: Learning to recognize baby hunger cues Feeding frequently in the early weeks Staying relaxed during nursing Seeking guidance when unsure Small Steps That Make a Big Difference Confidence in breastfeeding often grows with small, consistent improvements. Over time, these habits help mothers develop a comfortable and sustainable breastfeeding routine. THE MOM STORE The Mom Store is an Indian e-commerce brand offering maternity, baby and kids’ essentials— from maternity wear and newborn clothing to feeding products and nursery items. Based in Bengaluru and founded in 2018, the company focuses on quality, comfort and everyday convenience for modern parents. @AtTheMomStore www.themomstore.in @the_mom_store